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Word for the World - December 4, 2014

“For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” (Numbers 32:19, NASB95)

Just before entering the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad (later joined by the half-tribe of Manessah) made a request to Moses for the land east of the Jordan River, rather than continuing on to the Promised Land. Like Esau long before, they were willing to give up their birthright for a bowl of stew. Why would these tribes so easily relinquish their inheritance awaiting them in the Promised Land? Because the land they were on was “good for livestock” and that was good enough for them.

Yet the land they wanted was clearly not part of the Promised Land. However, even when discouraged by Moses, these tribes insisted on paying whatever the cost in order to have this less-than-Promised-Land. Years later, Solomon would write, “An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning will not be blessed in the end” (Proverbs 20:21, NASB95). And, in the end, these two and one-half tribes were the first of the “lost tribes” of Israel.

I encourage you not to be caught up in thinking that “a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.” Spiritually, that kind of thinking is likely to cause you to walk by sight, not by faith.